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Why Mark Zuckerberg turned to Dana White to secure Maga's favor

White’s friendship with Trump dates back to 2001, when the UFC president was still trying to convince the world that MMA was more than a blood sport. As the UFC was struggling to find a home for its events, Trump took a chance and offered up his Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City for two […]

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Why Mark Zuckerberg turned to Dana White to secure Maga's favor

White’s friendship with Trump dates back to 2001, when the UFC president was still trying to convince the world that MMA was more than a blood sport. As the UFC was struggling to find a home for its events, Trump took a chance and offered up his Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City for two consecutive events.“We hire Conor [McGregor] next for after work sparring?,” one employee commented in a post reviewed by technology outlet 404 Media. McGregor was held liable for sexual assault in November 2024 and is currently appealing the decision.

Shortly after Trump’s victory in November, Zuckerberg traveled to Mar-a-Lago to dine with the president-elect and his transition team, even donating m to Trump’s inauguration fund. He has also culled Meta’s third party fact-checking program, lifting restrictions on topics like immigration and gender. And this week, Zuckerberg took his efforts to align with the incoming administration a step further by appointing Dana White – the CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and a close Trump ally – to Meta’s board of directors.Despite their blossoming friendship, White’s appointment to the board of directors of Zuckerberg’s organization drew criticism from Meta employees.While White even helped connect Trump with the podcast hosts and influencers such as Joe Rogan, Theo Von and the Nelk Boys, all of whom would play a significant role in helping Trump connect with a younger audience, he later admitted he wasn’t interested in entering the political arena himself. “I want nothing to do with this shit. It’s gross. It’s disgusting,” White told the New Yorker.In the press release, Zuckerberg noted how White, along with fellow new board members John Elkann and Charlie Songhurst, would help Meta “tackle the massive opportunities ahead with AI, wearables, and the future of human connection.” However, given that White – a fight promoter and seasoned hype man – has little experience in any of these areas, his appointment appears to be a calculated move by Zuckerberg to solidify ties with Trump through one of his closest and most influential allies.White has stumped for Trump at three Republican National Conventions and a slew of campaign rallies. He traveled with the president-elect on Air Force One and produced a UFC documentary on Trump entitled Combatant-in-Chief. White even spoke at Trump’s victory speech following the 2024 election. “This is what happens when the machine comes after you,” White said at the time. “This is karma, ladies and gentlemen. He deserves this.”Much like Trump, White is notoriously sensitive and thin-skinned when it comes to the media. In the lead-up to the UFC sale in 2016, he blacklisted journalist Ariel Helwani for stealing his thunder and breaking a UFC story before White had a chance to announce it himself. While Helwani’s ban was quickly lifted, numerous other journalists, myself included, have faced his wrath and received lifetime bans from covering the UFC. For example, I was banned for my critical coverage of the organization, including reporting on its ties to Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov.In 2023, White attempted to broker a fight between Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, another tech billionaire and Trump ally. Musk eventually pulled out of the fight, citing a lingering injury, and blamed Zuckerberg for refusing to reschedule the bout.Dana White and Mark Zuckerberg attend UFC 300 event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas last year.

“Honestly, I think they have come a long way, Meta, Facebook” Trump said.Karim Zidan writes a regular newsletter on the intersection of sports and authoritarian politics.White’s strong-arm approach to public relations, which includes abusive outbursts at media members, is part of the promotion’s strategy to control journalists, and by extension, the narratives surrounding a particular event. Due to the constant fear of having their press credentials rescinded, beat reporters in attendance are discouraged from asking difficult questions that would reflect poorly on the UFC. These include topics such as unionization, fighter pay, or the UFC’s affiliation with several authoritarian regimes around the world. This is the sort of experience that White brings to Meta.“I’ve never been interested in joining a board of directors until I got the offer to join Meta’s board. I am a huge believer that social media and AI are the future,” White said in Meta’s official press release. “I am very excited to join this incredible team and to learn more about this business from the inside. There is nothing I love more than building brands, and I look forward to helping take Meta to the next level.”In the four months since Donald Trump accused Mark Zuckerberg of conspiring against him during the 2020 presidential election and threatened him with life imprisonment, the Meta CEO has gone to great lengths to curry favor with the incoming president.Over the past few years, Trump frequently attended UFC events, basking in the admiration of the young, predominantly male crowd. He cultivated relationships with fighters, leveraging their support to portray himself as a symbolic strongman. He embraced the UFC’s culture of defiance, machismo and spectacle to help buttress his image as a rebel against liberal norms. It has also hastened the replacement of America’s conventional political culture with an abrasive new blend of entertainment and confrontational politics, perfectly embodied by both Trump and White.Shortly following Meta’s announcement, employees took to Workplace, Meta’s business communications platform, to share their thoughts. Some posed questions and criticisms, including why Meta was working with a man who slapped his wife in public and faced no consequences for his actions. Others made jokes asking whether performance reviews would now involve MMA fights.In response to the slew of criticism, Meta deleted several of the internal posts, citing violations in guidelines governing employee communications. For a company that claimed it was “time to get back to our roots around free expression” earlier that same day, the decision to censor some of the employee criticism was bitterly ironic. It also drew parallels with the White’s own approach to handling criticism at the UFC.Zuckerberg’s frantic efforts to appease Trump seem to have paid off. Earlier this week, the president-elect praised Meta for changing how it moderates political content, even speculating whether the policy shift was a direct response to the threats he directed at Zuckerberg.White has since credited Trump for helping the UFC during a difficult period in its history. And though the story is mere marketing lore, it helped establish a compelling narrative for the growing alliance between the two men and their respective brands.

  • Nevertheless, White’s close relationship with Trump has helped elevate the cage-fighting impresario into a business executive with more political cache than most of Washington’s elites. His positioning at the intersection of sports, business, and fight culture also made him a conduit to brands looking to score points with conservative audiences. For example, when Bud Light faced a major right-wing backlash for featuring trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney in one of their promotional campaigns, the organization signed a deal with the UFC to become the organization’s official beer. White took it upon himself to defend Bud Light, arguing that “if you consider yourself a patriot, you should be drinking gallons of Bud Light.”

College Sports

What are the Best Documentaries on DocPlay

If you’re looking for the best documentaries in 2024, as well as this year, DocPlay is the ultimate destination of factual content, with the best in the world curated to deliver thought-provoking and poignant titles straight to your screens.  DocPlay is a documentary-dedicated streaming service, offering almost 2,000 titles you can stream instantly. With several […]

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What are the Best Documentaries on DocPlay

If you’re looking for the best documentaries in 2024, as well as this year, DocPlay is the ultimate destination of factual content, with the best in the world curated to deliver thought-provoking and poignant titles straight to your screens. 

DocPlay is a documentary-dedicated streaming service, offering almost 2,000 titles you can stream instantly. With several exclusives getting added each week, there’s always something new to watch on the service. Even better, you don’t need to subscribe to explore its library—simply go to the DocPlay website and scroll through categories. 

However, if you watch documentaries on a regular basis, getting a DocPlay plan, which you can try for 14 days, is bound to be worthwhile. If you’re a Prime customer, DocPlay is available as an add-on via Prime Video channels in Australia. 

For Foxtel users, the media giant launched DocPlay as a channel, allowing you to watch DocPlay content without the need for an additional subscription—available for all Foxtel customers. 

To get started, here’s a list of top docos to watch, including some of the best documentaries 2024 and 2025 have to offer. 

Stream DocPlaywith a 14-day free trial!Watch Now

We’ve picked the Top 10 documentaries on DocPlay based on critics and audience ratings, as well as their enduring popularity on the service. Some newly released and acclaimed documentaries also made our Top 10 list. If you’re searching for the best documentaries of 2024 and 2025, you can find some of those films below.

1

Rank: #225

1

Rank: #225

2

Rank: #248

2

Rank: #248

3

Rank: #319

3

Rank: #319

4

Rank: #459

4

Rank: #459

5

Rank: #463

5

Rank: #463

6

Rank: #668

6

Rank: #668

7

Rank: #763

7

Rank: #763

8

Rank: #816

8

Rank: #816

9

Rank: #929

9

Rank: #929

10

Rank: #1270

10

Rank: #1270

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DocPlay’s content library combines Australian originals and international documentaries to stream, which makes the service a haven for doco buffs. Last year was also a great time for factual content with several documentaries released to widespread acclaim. 

Some of the best documentaries in 2024 include the Academy Award-winning piece No Other Land, as well as other nominees Porcelain War, Black Box Diaries, Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat, and Sugarcane

The Fish Thief: A Great Lakes MysteryDocumentary
AUM: The Cult at the End of the WorldCrime, Documentary, History, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True StoryDocumentary, Music, Musical
Becoming Led ZeppelinDocumentary, Music
#UNTRUTH: The Psychology of TrumpismCrime, Documentary
Soundtrack to a Coup d’EtatDocumentary, History
The PoolDocumentary
Blur: Live at Wembley StadiumDocumentary, Music, Musical
The Blind SeaDocumentary
Trilogy: New WaveDocumentary
No Other LandDocumentary
Maurice And IDocumentary
Space: The Longest GoodbyeDocumentary
Aquarius
The Bibi FilesDocumentary
Ange & The Boss – Puskas in AustraliaDocumentary
Blur: To the EndDocumentary, Music, Musical
Ice MaidenDocumentary
蒸発Documentary
Black Box DiariesDocumentary

Looking for something else? Find it here.

What are the newly added documentaries on DocPlay? 

Every week, you can find new documentaries to watch on DocPlay. Some of the most notable additions recently are Johatsu: Into Thin Air, Black Coast Vanishings, Voice, Still We Rise, and One to One: John & Yoko. These latest additions are also some of the best documentaries released in 2024.

What are the documentary categories on DocPlay? 

DocPlay’s curated library covers a wide range of genres, including history, music, sports, politics, culture, health, environment, biography, and true crime, catering to all interests and ensuring there’s something for every documentary enthusiast. Categories such as Australian Stories, New Zealand Stories, Social Justice, Short Film, and many more are also available. 

What are the best true crime documentaries on DocPlay? 

Crime shows and movies are even higher-stakes when based on real events. Some of the best true crime documentaries to watch in Australia are Nisman: The Prosecutor, The President & The Spy, Dear Zachary, When Missing Turns to Murder, and Top 10 Secrets and Mysteries.  

What are the best documentaries in 2024 and 2025? 

Newly released documentaries that are now streaming on DocPlay include No Other Land, Black Box Diaries, Porcelain War, The Road to Patagonia, and Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat. You can also explore the app without a subscription to check our more of the best documentaries in 2024.

How to sign up to DocPlay Australia? 

You can sign up directly to DocPlay, which still offers a 14-day free trial. The monthly plan currently costs $9.99 per month, or you can save on plan fees when you get the annual plan at $99.99 (works out $8.33 per month).

Can I get DocPlay via Foxtel?

If you’re a Foxtel customer, DocPlay is available as a channel (ch. 119). If not, Foxtel plans start at $73 per month to access its base entertainment channels, which includes DocPlay at no additional cost. 

Can I get DocPlay via Prime Video?

You can also get DocPlay as an add-on via Prime Video, although it’s worth noting that it’s not included for free with Amazon Prime. The subscription price remains the same, but the main advantage is that you can consolidate your streaming services under one account (Amazon Prime).

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Professional Sports

Deadly July 4th floods devastate Central Texas

Catastrophic flooding triggered by heavy rainfall in Central Texas has left over 90 people dead, with girls still missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp, who were swept away by the surging Guadalupe River.Search and rescue teams continue working across 12 counties in what officials are calling the state’s deadliest flood disaster in decades. […]

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Deadly July 4th floods devastate Central Texas

Catastrophic flooding triggered by heavy rainfall in Central Texas has left over 90 people dead, with girls still missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp, who were swept away by the surging Guadalupe River.
Search and rescue teams continue working across 12 counties in what officials are calling the state’s deadliest flood disaster in decades. CGTN’s Nitza Soledad Perez reports from Kerrville with one survivor’s harrowing story.

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Professional Sports

Top table tennis players take over Las Vegas

Las Vegas is known for hosting all sorts of major sporting events from a Formula 1 Grand Prix race to the biggest boxing matches. And this month, the Nevada city is hosting yet another sporting-first for the United States. CGTN’s Dan Williams has more from the World Table Tennis Grand Smash Tournament. [embedded content] 4

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Top table tennis players take over Las Vegas

Las Vegas is known for hosting all sorts of major sporting events from a Formula 1 Grand Prix race to the biggest boxing matches.

And this month, the Nevada city is hosting yet another sporting-first for the United States. CGTN’s Dan Williams has more from the World Table Tennis Grand Smash Tournament.

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Professional Sports

Schedule of events during MLB All

[embedded content] ExploreHBCU Swingman Classic to showcase talent to kick off MLB All-Star weekend It’s all about taking a break from the regular season to put on a spectacular game of baseball featuring some of the sport’s greatest athletes. And for the third time ever — and after a quarter century of waiting — it’s […]

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Schedule of events during MLB All

It’s all about taking a break from the regular season to put on a spectacular game of baseball featuring some of the sport’s greatest athletes. And for the third time ever — and after a quarter century of waiting — it’s coming back to Atlanta.

When and where is 2025 MLB All-Star Week?

The Midsummer Classic is coming to Truist Park on July 15, where players will hit the field at 8 p.m. ET. The stadium’s address is 755 Battery Ave. SE Atlanta, Georgia 30339. Those interested in learning more about the stadium can visit mlb.com/braves/apps/ballpark to download its app.

What’s there to do during MLB All-Star Week?

The All-Star Game itself is only a part of what MLB All-Star Week has to offer.

The fun kicks off with the HBCU Swingman Classic, a game featuring all-star players from historically Black colleges and universities, at Truist Park on July 11 at 7 p.m.

July 12 will feature two Truist Park competitions: the All-Star Futures game and the MLB All-Star celebrity softball game. The All-Star Futures game, which begins at 4:10 p.m., will see some of baseball’s rising stars and top minor league talent battle it out, while the celebrity softball game, which is only five innings, will start at 7 p.m. and is set to feature the likes of Big Boi, Kandi Burruss, Jordan Chiles and Jermaine Dupri.

July 13 will be a busy day for baseball fans, starting with the 2025 MLB All-Star 4.4 Miler. Held in honor of Atlanta Braves legend Hank Aaron, the running event starts at Center Parc Stadium at 7:30 a.m. Interested runners and joggers can sign up to race at mlb.com/all-star/4-4-miler.

The derby is the next thing on the docket. The MLB Home Run Derby X is a three-on-three co-ed competition featuring some of the biggest names from women’s baseball and professional softball. The event will be hosted at Russ Chandler Stadium‘s Mac Nease Baseball Park on Georgia Tech’s campus on July 13 at 2:30 p.m.

Later that day, the 2025 MLB Draft will be going down at the Coca-Cola Roxy in The Battery Atlanta at 6 p.m.

On Monday, 2025 MLB All-Star Week is bringing out its heavy hitters. At 8 p.m. on July 14, the T-Mobile Home Run Derby will begin. It’s a head-to-head, bracketed tournament dedicated to crowning the year’s home run champion. Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Teoscar Hernandez took home the top spot last year.

Finally, before the big game on Tuesday, fans can catch the All-Star Red Carpet Show at 2 p.m. at The Battery, which will also be shown live on MLB Network. The MLB All-Star Game will start at 8 p.m. in Truist Park on July 15.

For tickets to all of 2025 MLB All-Star Week’s offerings, visit mlb.com/braves/fans/all-star-game.

Throughout the events, from July 12-15, Cobb Galleria Centre will host Capital One’s All-Star Village. The village will feature live entertainment, interactive games, batting cages, photo ops, food and more.

Where to stay near Truist Park

The official hotel of the Atlanta Braves, Omni Hotel at The Battery Atlanta, is right next to Truist Park. The team also lists six other nearby spots as “preferred hotels” for Truist Park visitors:

  • Aloft Atlanta at The Battery Atlanta
  • Atlanta Marriott Northwest at Galleria
  • Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia
  • Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel & Convention Center
  • DoubleTree Suites by Hilton at The Battery Atlanta
  • Sonesta Atlanta Northwest Galleria – Marietta

Parking options near Truist park

To park at this stadium, you’ll need to purchase a spot. Truist Park strongly recommends pre-purchasing parking spots before visiting, as it stops selling parking after the first pitch.

Credit: Miguel Martinez

icon to expand image

Credit: Miguel Martinez

Pricing for parking changes by day, as well as by section, so visitors will want to check online at MLB.com/braves/ballpark for the most up to date prices. A map of the stadium’s different parking sections can be viewed here.

How to watch the game at home

The 2025 MLB All-Star game will air live on FOX at 8 p.m. ET on July 15. Coverage begins at 7 p.m.

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College Sports

IU basketball recruiting

Class of 2027 guard LJ Smith announced a scholarship offer from Indiana on Sunday afternoon. It appears IU assistant Kenny Johnson is leading the charge here.  Smith thanked Johnson in his announcement of the offer on X. Based on the average of the national recruiting rankings, Smith is a 4-star, the No. 49 player in […]

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IU basketball recruiting

Class of 2027 guard LJ Smith announced a scholarship offer from Indiana on Sunday afternoon.

It appears IU assistant Kenny Johnson is leading the charge here.  Smith thanked Johnson in his announcement of the offer on X.

Based on the average of the national recruiting rankings, Smith is a 4-star, the No. 49 player in the 2027 class, and the No. 2 combo guard.  Two outlets — 247Sports and ESPN — have Smith as a top-30 player in the class.  He appears to be trending favorably.

Smith played his first two years of high school at Lincolnton H.S. in Lincolnton, N.C.   As a high school sophomore he averaged 33.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.6 steals per game.  He scored at least 40 points in seven games as Lincolnton went 24-6.

In 2024-25, the 6-foot-4 Smith broke the NCHSAA sophomore single-season scoring record.

For travel basketball Smith plays for Team Thad on the Nike EYBL Circuit.  He is playing up a year with the 17u team and averaging 13.8 points while shooting 44.4% from three on 54 attempts.

Smith is a fluid athlete and a skilled guard who can score the ball at an elite level.  He’s a very good shooter and has a solid frame for his age.  That latter point should allow Smith to be a force in the paint on offense, and a top-end defender.

Smith is already one of the most coveted guards in his class.  He also has offers from North Carolina, Cincinnati, Clemson, Georgia, Kansas, LSU, Memphis, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, and West Virginia.

For a complete look at Indiana’s 2026 through 2028 offers and prospects, GO HERE.

 For complete coverage of IU basketball recruiting, GO HERE.   


The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”

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Bobby Jenks, former All

Former White Sox closer and 2005 World Series champion Bobby Jenks died on Friday after a battle with cancer. He was 44. “We have lost an iconic member of the White Sox family today,” White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. “None of us will ever forget that ninth inning of Game 4 […]

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Bobby Jenks, former All

Former White Sox closer and 2005 World Series champion Bobby Jenks died on Friday after a battle with cancer.

He was 44.

“We have lost an iconic member of the White Sox family today,” White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. “None of us will ever forget that ninth inning of Game 4 in Houston, all that Bobby did for the 2005 World Series champions and for the entire Sox organization during his time in Chicago. He and his family knew cancer would be his toughest battle, and he will be missed as a husband, father, friend and teammate.

“He will forever hold a special place in all our hearts.”


Bobby Jenks and Paul Konerko celebrating a Chicago White Sox World Series win.
Bobby Jenks celebrates after the White Sox won the 2005 World Series. AP

Jenks was battling adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer.

He was living in Portugal to be closer to his wife’s family.

Jenks played seven MLB seasons, the first six of which were with the White Sox before one season with the Red Sox.


Bobby Jenks, Chicago White Sox pitcher, throwing a baseball.
Bobby Jenks played six seasons for the White Sox. UPI

He was a two-time All-Star — in 2006 and 2007.

As a rookie, he was part of the White Sox team that won the World Series, recording four saves with a 2.25 ERA in the postseason.

Two of those saves came in series-clinching wins — in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Red Sox and Game 4 of the World Series against the Astros.

He finished his career with 173 saves.

He is survived by his wife, Eleni, and six children.

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